X (formerly Twitter) has launched Chat, an upgrade to its direct messaging system. It brings secure end-to-end encryption , support for video and voice calls, disappearing messages, and several other features. The feature is already being rolled out for iOS and web users. Android users are set to receive the upgrade soon.
X Chat goes official with end-to-end encryption support
With the rollout of X Chat , it replaces the older DM architecture while also carrying older conversations. This means that the user won’t lose any of their existing chats on the legacy DMs. Chat introduces end-to-end encryption for both messages and file sharing. This was a much-requested feature, and the platform has finally added it. However, some of the metadata, such as who sent a message or when messages were delivered, is not encrypted.
X also warns that currently, no system is in place to know if their conversation hasn’t been intercepted. However, the firm has confirmed the development of protection against man-in-the-middle attacks. Verification tools for device identity and message will be added to the platform soon.
It brings disappearing messages, voice, and video calls, and file sharing support
Alongside the encryption, X Chat also brings support for disappearing messages. It will automatically delete after a user-selected time window. Further, for added protection, users can choose to block screenshots of their conversations or receive alerts when someone screenshots a conversation.
Just like WhatsApp and Telegram, messages on X Chat can now be edited after they’re sent. The company aims to make X a complete communication platform as it also adds support for voice and video calls inside chats. These are direct one-to-one calls integrated into the messaging services. The file-sharing capabilities have been improved as well. It allows the encrypted transfer of media and documents. With these new features, X aims to become a mainstream messaging platform, competing directly with giants like WhatsApp.
